Our interview with Alex….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family:  Single father to a wonderful young man Marco,  my 6 y/o. My sister (Veronica) is the best Aunt ever to my little man, and my parents did a great job raising us (and dealing with my crap), they have retired to Mexico about 7 years ago.

Occupation?  Firefighter / Paramedic

What are some of your hobbies & interests? Reading (I know…nerd), playing my electric guitar, ANY outdoor activity with my son, cooking, working on my car or anything mechanical. I’m also a HUGE  horror movie fan. Enjoy going to concerts.

When did you start CrossFitting? October 2011

Main reason for joining BBCF?   To get in better shape for my job and stay very active

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I can’t believe I’m going to leave my breakfast in this bucket next to me…(I almost did) 

Words to live by or Favorite Quote?  “Si vis pacem, para bellum” and “When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work.” ~Edward F. Croker (FDNY Retired)

What is your fitness background?  A few years of “typical” weight training, Played basketball, football in High School, ballet (No, not really)….and yes, P90X, blah!

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?  The looks on the coaches’ faces when we are all destroyed after a tough WOD. Honestly though, the satisfaction of pushing yourself and helping push others past our previous limits.

How has BBCF changed your life?  Physically but more importantly mentally helped me vent during a hard time.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF.  In better shape, happier in every important aspect of my life, and confidence.

What are your future training goals?  To just keep improving no matter what, I understand it’s not going to happen overnight.

What is your cheat meal of choice? Portillos Double BACON cheeseburger and their Chocolate Cake, HUGE  fan of stuffed pizza (sometimes both in one day)

Favorite sport or activity?  Watching MMA, running (I know, I know.. never thought I would enjoy that)  Target shooting which I don’t do enough of.

Recent adventure you’re planning?   I plan on doing the Kokoro Camp at SealFit HQ in Coronado, CA. in June (GULP!)

Tell us something we don’t know about you?  Neat freak (borderline OCD), pretty darn good at reading lips and what people are saying. Uncomfortable in a room with people I’ve never met. My friends make fun of me because my taste in music is all over the place  (Megadeth, Slipknot, Dido, Tony Bennet, Santana…see?)

What is your favorite workout?  Murph with the 20 lb vest

What is your favorite lift? Clean

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Annie…hate that b*#ch!!

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones?  Freedom Challenge, it was a great workout/day and I got to share it with some pretty special people on my team!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I have friends that are still at the box, and others who have moved on. Regardless we are all after the same thing and it is amazing how far we have come, have pushed each other, and will continue to do so. I have met some great people here, and there is definitely a sense of community regardless of where we are!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?  Just STFU and drink the Kool-Aid already!!!

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different Bare Bones athlete.  Our February Athlete of the Month is: Marijke Shaffer.

Our interview with Marijke….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family:  I grew up in Dayton, Ohio and have been living in Illinois for the last 6 years. I have 2 handsome son’s Michael, 17 and Logan 7. Michael will be graduating from High School in May and Logan is in 1^st grade. I enjoy and love my family very much.

Occupation?

I have been a graphic designer for over 15 years and thoroughly enjoy it. Currently I am the Senior Graphic Designer for Oberweis Dairy.

What are some of your hobbies & interests?

I love family time and being outside. I also enjoy playing the violin, riding horses, sewing, reading, and I am a big Star Trek fan.

When did you start CrossFitting?

My first day was in July 2010. It was a new gym just opening in North Aurora and not affiliated with CrossFit yet. I traded designing the temporary gym logo for a free month of training. During my free month, I went 3 days a week and as I did research for the logo design and as I kept going to the classes I slowly started to understand what CrossFit was. After that first month I was hooked and joined.

Main reason for joining BBCF? 

Two sweet words… Coach Melissa I was a total stranger but she and Dave saw me at a local bar and Melissa asked me… “Do you work out at a gym and by chance is it a CrossFit box?” I said “sort of” since the gym I was going to wasn’t affiliated yet. I was actually looking into Bare Bones a few weeks prior to this encounter because I was wanting a CrossFit Box closer to were I lived. I took meeting Melissa as a “sign” and I joined BBCF September 15, 2011.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?
Dave ran with me the entire 400 meters! And that, my fellow CrossFitters, did me in! Then Dave kept talking and talking and talking to me after the 5-4-3-2-1 WOD…. And all the while I kept thinking “I wonder if he had anyone pass out after a WOD before”.

Words to live by or Favorite Quote?
Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you. Luke 6:31

What is your fitness background?
I’ve competed in Dressage since I was 12 years old until I retired my horse 7 years ago. I also played summer softball when I was growing up.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?
Enjoying my “Mini Hour Long Vacations”! I look forward to my hour of CrossFit everyday. I call them my “Mini-Vacations” because it’s a time all my responsibilities and weight of the world melt away and all that matters is the moment I’m in.

How has BBCF changed your life?
BBCF has genuinely become a family to me. Dave and Melissa have even taken care of my Goldfish for an entire week at Bare Bones while I visited my parents back in Ohio.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF
For me I have become more of a well-rounded CrossFitter with a better mindset especially when faced with challenging situations.

What are your future training goals?
2013 Goals
1) Proper form on the more difficult skill movements.
2) To be consistent at stringing more reps of difficult skill movements together.
3) Add 20-30lbs to most of my Olympic lifts.

2 Year Goal
To finish in the top 5 at a Local CrossFit Competition

5-10 Year Goal
Make the CrossFit Regional’s

Lifetime Goal
To always incorporate some aspect of “Functional Fitness” in my daily routine

What is your cheat meal of choice?
For me it’s more of a favorite cheat food… Reese Manwiches! (3 Reese Cups stacked up and eaten in less than 3 bites). One day I will find out how many I can eat comfortably in 1 sitting.

Favorite sport or activity?
Riding horses and I love swimming even though I’m not very good at swimming yet. I also love baseball and my Cincinnati Reds!

Recent adventure you’re planning?
Planning to go deer hunting next season  

Tell us something we don’t know about you?
When I first started CrossFit, I couldn’t even do 1 pull-up with the green band. I was scared to death to have any kind of weight more than 25lbs. over my head. My fastest mile was close to 13min (and that was with the coach pushing me)! I came to BBCF with a lot of hard accomplishments already achieved. I am not a natural. CrossFit does not come easy to me. I simply take it one failure and success at a time and work hard.

What is your favorite workout?
Any WOD that has Olympic lifting.

What is your favorite lift?
The squat clean and split jerk.

What is your LEAST favorite workout?
My least favorite workout is a WOD that doesn’t have even 1 movement I look forward to doing. I have only had this dilemma one time in the hundreds of WODS we have done. And yes Coach Dave, I knew ahead of time and still went anyways.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones?
The Freedom Challenge Bare Bones hosted last summer.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments?
I love how CrossFit gives to the community. Bare Bones does this exceptionally well with the right attitude. I am very grateful that I can be apart of all the fundraisers and support Bare Bones gives to organizations, family and individuals.

And every time I see the joy of accomplishment on someone’s face is a special moment to me.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?
Plant positive thoughts in your head and heart for they will become your words and your words will become your actions. Negative thinking and words like “I can’t or I’ll never achieve that…” will only hold you back. Listen to your coaches and do what they say (which was a big struggle for me to overcome). All the coaches care about every one of us at BBCF. They are encouraging and also give the right amount of constructive criticism so we become better athletes. And most of all enjoy your CrossFit journey

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.

Each month we will spotlight a different Bare Bones athlete.  Our January Athlete of the Month is.. Marcia Sorensen.

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series. Our December 2012 Athlete of the Month is Teri Hanson.

Our interview with Teri….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I have been married to my husband, Jon, for eight and a half years, and we have two children, Ethan (5) and Aubree (3).  Jon and I both grew up in Yorkville and lived here ever since, with the exception of going away to college.

When did you start CrossFitting? June, 2011

Main reason for joining BBCF?I’d been complaining about not being able to lose the “baby-fat” after having my second kid (this was going on 2 years after she was born!) and finally decided running wasn’t cutting it.  Also, I was tired of hearing about my friends and family who were already members telling me how great it was.  I thought working out wasn’t supposed to be enjoyable, so I had to see for myself!

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?Wow, I thought I was in okay shape, but that 6 ½ minutes just kicked my butt!  I have a LONG way to go!!

Occupation?I am a Reading Specialist for 4-6 grade students.

Hobbies/Interests? Getting outside with the family (hiking, riding bikes, playing at the park, swimming, playing in the snow, etc.), shopping, reading, trying out new recipes (mostly paleo!)

Words to live by or Favorite Quote? You can feel sore tomorrow or you can feel sorry tomorrow.  YOU CHOOSE!

What is your fitness background? I’ve grown up always involved in sports and played softball and volleyball through high school and for recreation into my adult life.  After college I began running to stay in shape, and I participate in the occasional 5k or 10k race.  I’ve completed three half-marathons too! Before Cross Fit I would also hit the occasional step aerobics or yoga class.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? Where to start…First of all, I love that I don’t have to do any thinking when it comes to the workout—the programing is all done for us! And, the best part of the programming is that it produces results way better than any other fitness program I’ve tried!  I also love that I get excited to go workout!  I have never had that experience with working out.  I would run or workout because I knew I should, but now I do it because I truly want to!  I love the community at Bare Bones.  Everyone is so supportive and encouraging.  I’ve also built some great friendships though Bare Bones.  Finally, one of the best things about Cross Fit is that there are so many ways to see progress.  I think that’s what motivates me the most!  Between conquering a new move to beating my previous time on a benchmark WOD to reaching a new PR on a lift, it’s being able to see results that keeps me going and pushing myself to that next level.

How has BBCF changed your life? I am in the best shape that I have ever been in my entire life, thanks to Bare Bones. Not only physically, but I also have also found new strength mentally to push myself through those really tough moments.  I have learned to eat in a way that better nourishes my body as well–I’m certainly not perfect in this aspect, but tons better than I was before BBCF!

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I used to think I was “in shape” because I was a runner, but I quickly realized that I had very little upper body strength.  So, over the last year and a half, I have gained tons of strength and stamina, and lost about 10 pounds.  I knocked about 2 ½ minutes off my 5k PR, and now I can do pull ups, handstand pushups, and most of the workouts RX.

What are your future training goals? Butterfly pull-ups, muscle up (I may be dreaming here!), L-sit for more than like 5 seconds, get my knees to actually touch my elbows in KTE on a consistent basis,……. I could go on and on!  Every time we do a benchmark WOD, my goal is to beat my previous time.

Favorite sport or activity? These days, most of our activities involve keeping the kids occupied!  My favorite times with them are when we get outside and do something active like go on hikes or play catch.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Just before Christmas, my whole family is going to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for our annual ski trip.  I’ve been going with my family since I was a kid and I love sharing this experience with my children!

Tell us something we don’t know about you? We are expecting our third baby at the end of June!  I plan to stick with Cross Fit throughout this pregnancy, but, man, is it hard doing this with a bun in the oven!  I give a lot of credit to those Cross Fit Mamas out there!

What is your favorite workout? Benchmark WODs

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Reps of heavy weight dead lifts, and anything with lots of push ups or ring rows.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Two come to mind.  The first one was when I had only been coming to Bare Bones for about a week or two, and it was a “pick your own WOD” day, so Coach Jason suggested Fran.  I had no idea what I was in for!  I think I was in my first set of 21 thrusters and I just remember thinking, “Why am I breathing so hard when my feet aren’t even moving?!?”

Another one of my most memorable workouts was Murph last Veteran’s Day.  It was one of the first WODs that I was able to do RX pull-ups, and I did 100 of them!  At about #87 I my hands tore open and those last few were just miserable, but the sense of accomplishment I felt when I was done was worth it all!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I really enjoyed the competition Libertyville this past October and Freedom Challenge at BBCF in July!  It was fun being part of a team and kicking butt together!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?Don’t forget your rep count, don’t get frustrated if it’s hard at first (it is for everyone!), and push yourself as hard as you can!  You really do get out of it what you put in!

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series. Our November 2012 Athlete of the Month is Dave Jones.

Our interview with Dave….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: Married to Corinna for almost 13 years.  (I am still trying to convince her to participate in a Family/Friends WOD)  We have 2 kids (Gabby 12 and Luke 9).

When did you start CrossFitting? I began last January

Main reason for joining BBCF?Needed a new fitness fix and I figured after visiting the BBCF website a dozen times, it was time to try it…looked too interesting to pass up.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? WTF?  How can I be so damn tired after only 7 minutes? What the hell is the next work out going to bring? And why is this Dave guy so damn happy when I’m in so much pain?

Occupation?High School Administrator

Hobbies/Interests? Golfing, Family time, coaching baseball (and creating CF WODs)

Words to live by or Favorite Quote? 1. “It doesn’t matter that you get knocked down.  It matters that you got back up”   2. “ Have fun & get it done!”

What is your fitness background?I think I’ve tried just about everything (running, P90X, Insanity, Anytime Fitness…) but nothing has been as challenging & addicting as CrossFit.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? The team workouts are challenging & fun and the people are incredibly supportive.  Everyone at BBCF wants to do their best, but they also want you to do your best.

How has BBCF changed your life? I just turned 45 and am honestly in the best shape of my life.  I have new found strength and energy.  I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery this December, but CrossFitting has allowed me to postpone until ???  Working out used to be a chore, but at BBCF, as soon as I leave the box—I can’t wait to return.  I actually get pissed when there is a tough WOD on my off days.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I have lost nearly 30 pounds and reduced my body fat by nearly 50%.  And I have discovered these weird bumps in the spot where my beer gut used to be.

What are your future training goals?I would like to be able to perform DU like Doc Nate, crank out pull ups like Bobby, lift like Mike Martin, and make Monica Seles grunts during the WOD like Erik B.  I also have the goal of never visiting “Pukie”—so far so good!

Favorite sport or activity? Baseball and College Football…love everything about them.

Recent adventure you’re planning? My wife and I just returned from a weekend football trip to my alma mater (University of Oklahoma).  Next trip is hopefully somewhere where the sun is hot and the beer is cold!

Tell us something we don’t know about you?Before teaching, I worked in the front office for the Chicago White Sox.

What is your favorite workout?Hero Workouts, partner workouts, and anything outside.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Any WOD that brings that evil smile to Dave Kiest’s face, or any workout that involves pushing that sled on the rubber floor.  My apologies to my team that day—embarrassing!

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Toss-up between “The Sevens” on Memorial Day and the Freedom Challenge.  During both I was sure I was going to die, but I felt incredible after completing them.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I enjoyed creating my own WOD (Kaiser Kiest Countdown)…some people were not so happy with me, but once Shawnna flipped me off…I knew it was a good WOD!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?It’s not about beating the clock or beating the person next to you.  It’s about setting goals for yourself and busting your ass until you reach them…and you will reach them.

Each month we will spotlight a different Bare Bones athlete.  This month we have Beryl Jones. October 2012

Our interview with Beryl….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family:

My wife, Teresa, and I moved to Yorkville from the Peoria area six years ago.  We just celebrated our 40^th anniversary.  I just celebrated 4o years with Caterpillar.  We have three adult children.  Our son, Chad,  and his wife, Nikki, and our grandson, Josh, live in Chatham, Illinois.  Our son, Ryan, lives in Springfield, Illinois.  And our daughter Laura and her husband Erik, and our granddaughter Sofie live in Olatha, Kansas.

When did you start CrossFitting?

I began CrossFitting six months ago.

Main reason for joining BBCF?

Trying to slow the aging process down.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?

I thought “What did I get myself into?”

Occupation?

Human Resources Manager

Hobbies/Interests?

Woodworking.

Words to live by or Favorite Quote?

You can be an old senior citizen, or a young senior citizen.  You choose.  ( I chose the latter.)

What is your fitness background?

I have never belonged to a gym or worked out before.  The only way I would ever run was if someone or something was chasing me.  An occasional walk or bike ride was about it.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?

Probably the encouragement I get from other CrossFitters.  At one time I was about ready to quit but the encouragement I got from one of the seasoned CrossFitters kept me going.

How has BBCF changed your life?

I never would have dreamed I could do some of the stuff I Do at BareBones.  It  has given me more confidence.  I feel better, and I am not sure why, but since joining BBCF I actually pay more attention to my diet.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF?

My first evening at BBCF I nearly died.  I couldn’t even do a single push-up or pull-up.  I still can’t do a pull-up, but getting closer.  I can knock out several push-ups.  That first night I would never believe I could do some of the workouts I do now.

What are your future training goals?

Keep working out at BBCF.  Now I feel guilty if I miss a session.

Favorite sport or activity?

I took up golf a few years ago.  Like CrossFitting, I am not very good, but I love it.

Recent adventure you’re planning?

Retirement.  I  am planning to retire in the next month or two.  That will be a real adventure.

What is your favorite workout?

They all suck, but I wouldn’t miss them for the world.

What is your LEAST favorite workout?

They all suck, but I wouldn’t miss them for the world.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones?

I don’t remember the workout, but I remember nearly losing my lunch afterwards.  What a feeling!!!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?

Don’t get discouraged at the lack of progress.  When I first started, I would get upset because I couldn’t lift as much weight as most of the others in the class.  It is not about how many reps or how much weight.  It is about pushing yourself.  Thanks to Coaches Dave and Melissa for finally getting that across to me.

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.

Each month we will spotlight a different Bare Bones athlete.  This month we have Jen Peluse…

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have Nate Strausberger…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: My wife Shawnna and I are celebrating our 7 year itch this year and we have two beautiful kids who thankfully got most of their mother’s genes.

When did you start CrossFitting?This November will be 2 years for me

Main reason for joining BBCF?If it could make my wife work out, it must be fun.  I also thought it would be good rehab for my shoulder.  I had 6 anchors put in my left shoulder to repair a torn labrum about a year before starting crossfit and I needed to keep stretching it to gain mobility that I had lost.  Crossfit has really done wonders for my shoulder.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?I hate pull-ups (this sentiment hasn’t changed much over last two years)

Occupation? I am independent sales rep in the glass and optical coating industry.  It’s pretty sexy stuff.

Hobbies/Interests? I am just generally happy to be doing anything if I am outside

Words to live by? Work hard so you can play hard

What is your fitness background? 12 oz curls, bean bags, sporadic upper body weight lifting and some very slow jogging.  I have always been involved in playing all and any sports since I was a little kid.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?I love the competition that takes place on a daily basis and I also like that there are plenty of metrics in place that allow you to gauge your progress.  Melissa does a great job with the website and posting results which I think help drive everyone.

How has BBCF changed your life?Since I work out of the house and sit in a chair all day, I cannot wait to get to BBCF in the afternoon to not only work up a good sweat, but to socialize with what have become some of my closest friends.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I have increased my strength and cardio a ton.  I even start to see some of my abs by Friday but they usually disappear by Monday.

What are your future training goals? Beat Mike Martin

Favorite sport or activity? Watching Football

Recent adventure you’re planning? I think we are going to fit a couple of camping trips in with the kids once the weather cools down.  We have this growing list of house repairs and updates that we hope to start tackling by the fall.  If you don’t see me come September, it’s because I’ve fallen off a ladder or nailed myself to the floor.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I like weed-whacking

What is your favorite workout? I really think “Seven” is my favorite so far just because of the sense of accomplishment I felt when I was done.  The first time I did it I think I only got through about five to six  rounds in over an hour and this last year I did the whole thing in around 48 minutes.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Nancy

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Fight Gone Bad

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? A lot of my memories are erased during the Bare Bones Night Outs but one of the most recent successful memories was the Freedom Challenge which I thought was one of the most fun competitions we have done to date.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining Bare Bones CrossFit?Stick with it and really push through it.  The harder you go today, the easier it will be tomorrow.  There is nothing wrong with visiting “Pukie”.

July 2012 Athlete of the Month, Barb Thompson

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Barb Thompson….

Our interview with Barb….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I grew up in Morris.  I have been married to Nate Thompson for almost seven years.  We have 3 kids (ages 5, 3, and 1).  Prior to becoming a full-time mom, I was an elementary school teacher in Plainfield.

When did you start CrossFitting? I began CrossFitting exactly one year ago.

Main reason for joining BBCF?Nate had joined Crossfit and talked about it constantly.  I kept thinking “Why would someone want to workout so hard and be so sore all the time?  That does not sound like fun!” A few months after our son was born, Nate coached me through a couple of tabatas in our family room.  I did pretty well and decided to give Crossfit a try.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I want more Crossfit!

Occupation? I started a seasonal children’s consignment sale in Kendall County five years ago that started off small and has become a giant event.

Hobbies/Interests? My only hobby right now is Crossfit.  My kids take up the rest of my time and energy.

Words to live by or Favorite Quote? Compete with the version of you that you’re striving to become.

What is your fitness background? I was big into Power Tumbling as a kid and teen.  At one point I was the state and national champion for my age group & level.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? There are so many things I love about Crossfit.  One of my favorite parts is the feeling you have right after a WOD, being completely wiped by having given everything you’ve got to give.  I also love the anticipation before a WOD.  And of course the support and encouragement in the gym.

How has BBCF changed your life? It’s taught me how strong and determined I can be.  I haven’t set goals for anything in life for years until Crossfit.  Now I continually set and meet goals.  Being able to do something you couldn’t do two months ago is a great feeling!

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF?I’ve lost about 25 pounds and am in the best shape of my life!

What are your future training goals? Muscle ups

Favorite sport or activity? I love hiking (especially through the mountains)…not that I get to do that very often.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Nate and I have been talking about taking a trip to Atlantis.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I’m a pretty quiet and reserved person (although I think everyone does know that about me).

What is your favorite workout? The hero wods are awesome!  The more difficult it is…the more I love it.  I love doing benchmarks also to track my progress.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Anything with running more than 400m…I’ve never been a fan of running.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? I remember we had to do 100 pullups in a workout.  I had just gotten the kipping pullup without bands and I remember thinking “There is absolutely ZERO chance I can finish all 100 pullups without a band.”  I finished all 100 pullups without the band.  Best. Feeling. Ever.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? The first competition really lit my competitive nature.  Ever since then, I’ve been more driven to become better and push harder every day.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?Push yourself and don’t stop pushing yourself ever.  Give everything you’ve got.  When you feel like you can’t go any further “just pickup the bar”.  The results you’ll see from Crossfit are amazing…physically and mentally!

June 2012 Athlete of the Month Annette

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Annette Hart….

Annette started with BBCF last August. We’ve learned since then that Annette is probably one of the most determined people we know. She is a great motivator and supporter of the other athletes, always cheering them on and her positive attitude is always present.  Annette has had a lot of ankle/foot issues and she still continued to come to Bare Bones and worked on gaining strength in other areas while letting it heal. She’s mastered her pull-ups and will probably be mastering those muscle-ups soon! She is always pushing herself to the next level. We love having Annette a part of our CrossFit family.

Our interview with Annette….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family:Well I grew up in Newark; my husband refers to my family as Norwegian rednecks. After marrying Rich almost 19 years ago I moved to the big city of Yorkville. We now have three children T.J. 14, Joey 12, and Faith 10.

When did you start Cross Fitting? August 2011

Main reason for joining BBCF?I saw the results that my husband Rich was getting from BBCF and I wanted to get in on it too. Coach Dave and Coach Melissa have been friends for many years. One day last summer I saw Melissa at the water park and I said to myself that I wanted to look half as good as she did. So I joined.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?I thought I was in good shape; I am tall, thin and have always worked out. Then I got my butt kicked in the longest 7 and half minutes of my life. For the record I didn’t throw up until my first WOD.

Occupation?Self-Employed Hair Dresser

Hobbies/Interests? Camping, outdoors type stuff, and riding my dirt bike (Honda CRF 150). I enjoy visiting nursing homes, schools, and hospitals with my therapy dogs Reece and Grace. I like to volunteer at my kids schools. Spending time with my kids and I love to bake.

Words to live by or Favorite Quote?From the movie Facing the Giants when the coach is screaming/yelling on the ground in the football players faces “give your best your very best don’t quit don’t give up don’t quit”. Sometimes when I want to quit and my brain is telling me to stop I think of that coach in the movie on the ground screaming and yelling at the kids in 100 degree Georgia heat. Facing the Giants is a must see, very inspirational movie.

What is your fitness background? I have tried many programs and gyms over the years and never had the result that I have achieved at BBCF.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? LOVE MY MORNING GIRLS, couldn’t do it without them. I have had several injuries over the last few years not from BBCF. The coaches have been able to help me work around my injuries and get me back into the game. The coaches are always watching to prevent injuries. I shouldn’t have been jumping rope on my one good foot while the other foot was broken/sprained/strained ankle, good eye Coach Dave.

How has BBCF changed your life?I have made a lot of nice friends and I am definitely stronger and in the best shape of my life.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I can finally do dead hang pull ups unassisted. It’s not pretty or graceful but I can do it.

What are your future training goals?Doing the things that I hate because I am not good at them, I will practice them a little every day.

Favorite sport or activity? My WOD of course. Going to the water park with the kids now that summer is here.

Recent adventure you’re planning? We are going to Branson this month with kids (Redneck Vacation at its best). Spending time at our property in Western Illinois when we can. The big trip of the summer is a ladies vacation with my sister and daughter Faith to see my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins in Maine.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?I played drums for eight years. I drove Rich crazy asking him for a drum set so I bought him a toy electronic drum set for Christmas as a joke. Mr. Punish got me when I tripped on it and rolled my ankle, and that was the beginning of several ankle surgeries over the years.

What is your favorite workout?Four corners outside on a hot (over a 90 degree) August day followed by second favorite “Murph”.

What is your LEAST favorite workout?Anything with wall balls, but I am working on them.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones?The four corners because I threw up and kipping pull ups for the first time.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones Cross Fit memories/moments? I just love to see the results from other people as they lose weight, tone up, or master difficult skills.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining Cross Fit?It doesn’t matter if your times are at the top or the bottom, what really matters is how hard you try. Give it your best, you’re very best and never give up. Everybody at BBCF is different. God made all of us unique in our own sort of way so make the best with what he gave you. If you give 100% you will see results.

May 2012 Athlete of the Month P.K.

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have P.K….

PK has been an outstanding athlete from the beginning. His kindness and willing to help others has been noticed not only by the Coaches but also from the other athetes. PK is the type of guy who will finish his own workout and then does not hesitate to go and help someone else finish theirs.  He’s always encouraging others and sets a good example for everyone around.  We are happy to have someone like PK be a part of our CrossFit Family. Congrats PK!!

Our interview with PK….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: My wife KT and I got married this past Sept, and are expecting our first little one this coming July!!

When did you start CrossFitting? Nov. 2010

Main reason for joining BBCF? Needed some variation

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I can’t wait for more!

Occupation? K-5 PE teacher

Hobbies/Interests? College football and basketball

Words to live by or Favorite Quote? I am lucky to be able to do what I do, cause many people wish they could be in my place.

What is your fitness background? Non-stop fitness for as long as I can remember

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? Competition and pushing others to get better

How has BBCF changed your life? I was at a point where I was not hitting my peek, but crossfit has helped me to again push myself to reach new levels.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? My overall strength and muscular endurance has improved.

What are your future training goals? My goal is to complete the upcoming marathon I have planned in July. After that, I just want to be able to say I worked my butt off.

Favorite sport or activity? Football and basketball

Recent adventure you’re planning? Having a baby!!!!

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I can’t wait to move out of this state. It’s boring and the weather is horrible, but it doesn’t look like it will be any time soon.

What is your favorite workout? Anything without deadlifts.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Anything with deadlifts.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Memorial Day 2011 – We did the Seven workout. It had to be 90 some degrees. It took over an hour. That was a challenge!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? Seeing people who come into crossfit and can’t do a pull up or run a mile and down the road seeing them complete those tasks they thought were impossible.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Tomorrow may not come so bust your butt today!

April 2012 Athlete of the Month Jon Hanson

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Jon Hanson…

Jon started with us in July 2011 and when he first came in to Bare Bones he was already one of those guys who you’d think were in great shape.  He was a runner and definitely had great endurance, but wanted to build his strength up. Since then, we  have been very impressed with Jon’s improvements. His run times are faster and he’s RXing the WODs that include those heavy lifts. His strength has vastly improved! Jon has also started competing and we are looking forward to seeing him in more upcoming competitions! We enjoy having Jon’s pleasant personality and positive attitude around the gym. (We think he must take after his Mom, Lori). Congrats Jon on being April’s Athlete of the Month!

Our interview with Jon….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I’ve been married to my wife Teri for almost 8 years. We have two amazing kids Ethan who will turn 5 this April and Aubree who will turn 3 in July. I’ve lived in or around Yorkville my whole life. I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2001 with a degree in Biological Science.

When did you start CrossFitting? The end of July 2011.

Main reason for joining BBCF? I knew a few people that had been working out at Bare Bones for awhile, including my mom, Lori. Then my wife, Teri, joined in June, and its all she would talk about when I would get home from work. With everyone saying how great crossfit was I had to cave and try the Kool-Aid  for myself.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? Where can I hide so all these people don’t see me vomit? I think I sat in the restroom for 10 minutes trying to regain my composure.

Occupation? Manufacturing Engineer for lower powertrain components at Caterpillar.

Hobbies/Interests? Anything outdoors. I especially love fishing with my son and my brothers and camping with my family.

Words to live by? Life’s a garden, Dig it.

What is your fitness background? I played baseball in high school and intramural sports in college. After college my main form of exercise was running. About 15-25 miles per week.  I’ve completed 3 half marathons so far, and even tried triathlons for a few years. I gave that up when I came to the conclusion that I hate swimming while getting kicked in the face.  I also did a little strength training on a Bowflex.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? It’s always different. Completing a workout is fun and not a chore. Once you accomplish something there is always something else to master.

How has BBCF changed your life? Overall I’m living a healthier lifestyle. My diet has completely changed.  It’s made me a more driven person. If you can push yourself through some of these WODs you can do anything.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I’ve gained strength and become a more well rounded athlete. I have abs again!

What are your future training goals? I want to finally master butterfly pull-ups and try to make regional’s in the open next year.

Favorite sport or activity? I would have to say Baseball. Let’s-Go, Go-Go- Whitesox!

Recent adventure you’re planning? VEGAS in May!I love me some penny slots. Teri and I are planning a trip to Florida with the kids in July. Their first time to Disney World. Can’t wait!

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I’ll give you two. 1) I’m a closet Karaoke addict.2) I have an identical twin brother. So if you see me out somewhere and I act like I don’t know you, it’s because it was Jason and he really doesn’t know who you are.

What is your favorite workout? Fight Gone Bad

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Anything with good mornings. How can such a simple movement cause SOOO much pain? My legs are destroyed for days.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Murph (1 mile run,100 pull-ups, 200push-ups,300 squats, 1mile run) I thought that one would never end.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? All the competition events, my first muscle up, and making it onto the board for the 5-4-3-2-1.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Stick with it. Don’t let the voice in your head tell you something is impossible. Kill the Voice (read the post, I think it’s on the website somewhere).

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March 2012 Athlete of the Month Rick Dillon

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Rick Dillon…

Rick joined Bare Bones back in December of 2010. Soon after he started, his wonderful wife (former athlete of the month) Jen joined. We have loved having them in our evening classes and have really enjoyed seeing how much they’ve progressed over this past year. Rick is always pushing himself through every workout and gives it his all.  Aside from that, anyone who knows him would agree that he has a pleasant personality and a calmness about him that is nice to be around, even after a killer workout! We are so happy to have Rick a part of our community and we will look forward to seeing him get that Muscle-up! We know it’s coming SOON!

Our interview with Rick….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I have been married to my wife, Jen, for 16 years and we have one son, Noah, who is 9.  We have lived in Yorkville for 5 years.

When did you start CrossFitting? December 2010

Main reason for joining BBCF? My friend, Randy Harker, invited me so I decided to give it a try and have been coming ever since.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?I can’t breathe, I can’t stop coughing and I can’t wait to get home to lie on the floor.  After I recovered, I thought “that was pretty cool” and then I talked Jen into going.

Occupation? I am a Mortgage Underwriter.

Hobbies/Interests? I enjoy listening to music, traveling and spending time with my family and friends.

Words to live by. Do your best at everything you do.

What is your fitness background? I had done P90X in the past but had lost motivation to work out.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? When the WOD is over, just kidding.  I like everything about it especially accomplishing things that I didn’t think were possible.

How has BBCF changed your life? It has become a huge part of my life.  I enjoy the challenge of the WODS, the great people I have met and being able to share the experience with Jen.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I have lost about 20 pounds and have become mentally and physically stronger.

What are your future training goals? I would like to be able to do a muscle-up.

Favorite sport or activity? Bare Bones night out is an activity, right? I like baseball also.

Recent adventure you’re planning? We are going to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico this summer.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I am a pretty good cook.

What is your favorite workout?I don’t have a favorite workout but I like doing benchmark workouts. It’s nice to see your progress.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Kelly – 5 rounds for time of 400 meter run, 30 box jumps and 30 wall balls.  I was embracing the suck!!

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Cinco De Mile-o. I had a blast.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I have gone from using a band to kipping/butterfly pull-ups and have moved from single jump ropes to double-unders.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Just keep coming, you won’t regret it.

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February 2012 Athlete of the Month Pam Penney

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Pam Penney…

Pam came to us in June of 2011 and we could tell immediately that she had her mind set on getting back in shape.  It wasn’t long that she realized she could push herself farther than she thought she could and began  seeing results soon after. We have seen so many changes in Pam since first starting with us. Not only in her physical appearance but her confidence and strength as well.  Her motivation and energy are just a couple of traits that make Pam a great Athlete and we’re happy to have her with us!

Our interview with Pam….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I have been married to my husband, Eric, for 6 years.  We have 2 children:  Evan, 4, and Lauren 1.  We also have 2 cat babies (Peter and Kit).

When did you start CrossFitting? June 2011.

Main reason for joining BBCF? I had had my baby nine months earlier and really wanted to get back into exercising.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? Where is the nearest bench to sit down?

Occupation?3^rd Grade Teacher

Hobbies/Interests? I like playing with my kids, and planning new lessons for my students.  I also like reading and sleeping from time to time.

Words to live by? I’m sorry.   Admitting to doing something wrong, asking forgiveness and moving on is really powerful.  Everyone makes mistakes!

What is your fitness background? I played volleyball in high school and was on the dance team.  When I returned home from college, I worked out on and off at a local gym.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? My favorite part of Crossfit is how I feel after I work out, the constant encouragement from everyone, and all of the new friends I have met.

How has BBCF changed your life? I feel better mentally and physically than ever before and have made exercise a priority in my life.  My diet has changed as well – I never would have thought I would stop drinking milk!

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? My body is more toned and my mood has definitely improved.  I am down 3 sizes and about 15 pounds.   Also, I can actually run some distance without stopping/fainting/throwing up.

What are your future training goals? I would like to join a competition…(Can’t believe I am putting that in writing!!)

Favorite sport or activity? Dancing.  I loved volleyball when I played but am way out of practice!

Recent adventure you’re planning? I am not really planning anything right now.  This question has me thinking that I really need to do something soon!

Tell us something we don’t know about you?I got my degree after attending 5 colleges/universities.  One was only for a day.

What is your favorite workout?I really like the challenge of the hero workouts.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Anything with Turkish Get-Ups…I can’t seem to actually “get up”.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? 400 meter broad jump.  When reading this ahead of time, I didn’ think it would be that difficult.  Obviously, I was proven wrong on the 90 degree day in summer when I was the only one left out on Wheaton Ave. willing my legs to move.  I did finish Rx after 30 minutes.  Very proud of myself and very sore for days!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? First double under, first kipping pull-up, first rope climb…all of those firsts have been great memories!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?Have fun, stick with it and do your best!

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January 2012 Athlete of the Month, Mary LeCuyer

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Mary LeCuyer…

We couldn’t think of a better person to kick the New Year off for Athlete of the Month than Mary LeCuyer! Mary started with Bare Bones back in August of 2010 and has been committed to CrossFit since.  Mary has been a part of most of our events including Cinco de Mile-O, Fight Gone Bad and the 2010 CrossFit Regionals in Chicago where she lent her beautiful voice and sang the Star Spangled Banner before the competition began. Since Mary’s pregnancy, we have seen her push through the most difficult WOD’s, not letting her current condition stop her. Often we hear comments from other athletes on how they are amazed at what she can do 7 and 8 months pregnant. Mary is truly an inspiration for many and we are so proud at how far she has come. We love having Mary a part of our Bare Bones family!

Our interview with Mary….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I live in Plano with my husband, Tony and our Boston terrier, Bravo.  We are very excited for our Baby, Camille to arrive in March!

When did you start CrossFitting? August 2010

Main reason for joining BBCF? My brother in law, Rob Green, told me about Bare Bones and encouraged me to join!  I was tired of my old workout routine.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I was extremely tired but very excited for facing more challenging CrossFit workouts!

Occupation? Vocalist, voice and piano teacher

Hobbies/Interests? Watching/attending sporting events, boating in the summer

Words to live by? Take any challenge presented to you head on and never give up!

What is your fitness background? I have always tried to stay physically active, but never to the extent that I’m working out now.  I was on the softball team from 3^rd grade to 8^th grade.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? The camaraderie…I have gained so many new friendships from joining BBCF.

How has BBCF changed your life? I have gained a whole new knowledge and respect for fitness and wellness.  Not only do I understand functional movements for exercise, but I understand what it means to maintain a healthy diet.   This is priceless knowledge I am gaining for the rest of my life.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? Well, before I have gained pregnancy weight, I had lost 2 pants sizes and gained muscle tone.  While I have been pregnant, I have this whole new sense of strength and drive from within!

What are your future training goals? After baby Camille arrives, I hope to be able to be successful at the kipping pull up and maybe join the muscle up club!

Favorite sport or activity? I enjoy running and golfing.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Welcoming our first child into the world in March!

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I love to sing with my dog

What is your favorite workout? Fran-Yay for thrusters and pull ups

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Rolling Randy- boo to snatches, burpees and forward rolls

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? The 5-4-3-2-1 on the first day, because Tony and I were there together and it was a whole new and exciting adventure for both of us!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I would have to say, all of the workouts I have completed while being pregnant.  I have definitely learned a lot about myself and have gained the necessary strengths to get me through the biggest WOD of my life….labor and delivery!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Make it your new lifestyle and enjoy your experience!

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December Athlete of the Month, Erin Shanahan

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Erin Shanahan…

Erin joined Bare Bones back in May and she has left an impression on us from the beginning. There’s no doubt about it that Erin has the drive, determination, motivation and passion towards CrossFit that all CrossFitters should endeavor.  It doesn’t matter if Erin is the last one to finish, she finds the inner strength to push through until she finishes, even through the toughest WOD’s.  Many of our athletes have mentioned how impressed they are with how hard she pushes herself. We are very glad Erin is part of our community and are happy to choose her as our December Athlete of the Month!

Our interview with Erin….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I grew up in Naperville with my parents and 3 younger sisters, and I went to college at UW-Madison. After college, I moved to Chicago with my dog Charlie and lived there while I went to law school. Then, Charlie and I moved back out here when I got a job in the suburbs about 2 years ago.

When did you start CrossFitting? May 2011

Main reason for joining BBCF? I was at a point in March of 2011 where I realized I needed to make a change, and I began doing Weight Watchers. Then in April Rob, who I work with, started talking about this CrossFit thing and saying we should try it out, so he set up the initial elements for me and the rest is history. So a big thank you to Rob since this was his idea.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I can’t believe they made me exercise this hard on the first day!!

Occupation?Assistant Public Defender for Kendall County. I am appointed by the court to be an attorney for people who cannot afford an attorney, and my main responsibility is representing juvenile offenders.

Hobbies/Interests? Baking (not with Paleo approved ingredients, sorry!), reading, hanging out with my dog Charlie, watching copious amounts of television.

Words to live by? “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends”-It’s a Wonderful Life

What is your fitness background? I played a lot of sports when I was younger like basketball, soccer, and I ran track and was pretty competitive in volleyball into early high school. Also, I experimented with exercise classes like kickboxing in college, but who doesn’t experiment in college?

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? I think almost everyone has said this but- The support from the other athletes and the coaches, it really is the difference in Cross Fit.  Having this community that is all working out together and supporting each other is really what I think keeps me going and keeps me pushing myself. There have been so many times that people coming in for the next class have cheered me on as I am finishing or people who are done have run extra laps and that really is something special. And a big Thank You to anyone who has ever offered encouragement or ran an extra lap, you have helped me get to this place!!

How has BBCF changed your life? Well, I have made a complete 180 fitness wise because prior to starting CrossFit I was not exercising at all ( I mean I was always intending to get around to it!) and I was eating complete junk all the time. I have probably never been in this good of shape or felt so healthy, and I really understand the importance of exercise and eating healthy…… This actually makes me sound pretty slow like, it has taken me 27 years to realize that you need to eat healthy and exercise? Really?

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? Fitness wise, I couldn’t run a mile continuously when I started ( or at least I had not attempted to in 10 years) and I have taken 2 minutes off my mile time from when I started here. Body wise- I have lost about 25 pounds, I have muscles and muscle tone I never had before and I have gone down 3 clothing sizes.

What are your future training goals?I am still chasing that unassisted pull-up.

Favorite sport or activity? Napping.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Ummmm….pass.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? There is literally nothing you don’t know, because if you have talked to me for more than two minutes you have heard my life story. If you haven’t spoken to me in person, always feel free to say hi to me at the Box, but you’ve been warned!

What is your favorite workout? I really liked the CrossFit Games we did because it tricks you into exercising. But I also like the really big workouts like the Filthy Fifty.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Anything where you have to run a mile or more straight.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? I guess the obvious answer is the Bradshaw Warrior Workout, because I got hit in the eye right before the workout and I was wearing a patch over my eye for the whole thing ( and I am sure the lovely picture of that workout is on this page somewhere).  Truthfully, I don’t really remember that actual workout because I was really dizzy and disorientated and just trying to get through it without falling down.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? Maybe a month ago there was a workout where we had to do 5 rounds of Run 200m, 20 Back Extensions, Run 200m, 20 push-ups, Run 200m, 20 sit-ups, Run 200m, 20 squats. So in the end it was a total of 4000m of running and 400 reps of exercises, and after 2 rounds I was beat and I really thought for the first time ever I might not finish a workout. I was about 8-10 minutes behind the group going into the 4^th round and really struggling and Joe Miranda who had already finished came up next to me and said he would run one with me- which I thought he was going to just run 200m to keep me going but instead he kept going through all the exercises and finished the entire 4^th and 5^th rounds with me. It was a great example of what CrossFit is all about because I needed to push myself and get through this workout and sure enough someone was there to support me.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?Measure your success against yourself and how far you have come, but don’t assume because you haven’t done something before or you couldn’t do it a month ago that you can’t do it today-always keep trying and in that way what you did yesterday really doesn’t count.

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November Athlete of the Month, Jen Dillon

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Jen Dillon…

Jen has been a member with us since December 2010. We love how much Jen puts her all into her Nutrition and CrossFit workouts and it has definitely shown in her results. Jen always comes to the WOD with a positive attitude and smile, no matter how difficult the WOD may be. We are blessed to have Jen as a member of the Bare Bones family.

Our interview with Jen….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I grew up in Wheaton and met Rick at Eastern Illinois University.  We have been married for 16 years and have one son, Noah (9) who is the light of our lives.   We have lived in several different cities and finally settled in Yorkville 5 years ago.

When did you start CrossFitting? December 2010

Main reason for joining BBCF? I had done P90X with Rick in the past but had fallen off the wagon of doing it every day.   I was also in a fitness rut of not wanting to go to the gym at night after work but was not real thrilled with the way I looked or felt.   Rick had been invited to try out CrossFit with Randy Harker.   He came home that night and had to lay down on the floor while he told me about it.  I knew right then that I needed to give it a try.  I started the next weekJ

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? “Did I beat Rick’s time”  (which I did –LOL) then “Wow, I really don’t feel very good” – Also, I wondered on my drive home “Why are all the headlights such a weird color of yellow?”  I probably should have stayed a bit longer to recover before driving homeJ

Occupation? Speech-Language Pathologist for the West Aurora School District

Hobbies/Interests? CrossFit tops my list of interests this past year; I love to read and pretty much carry my kindle wherever I go.   I also love to shop, cook, watch movies and spend time at home with Rick and Noah.

Words to live by? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  This has been a verse I have always turned to throughout my life.

What is your fitness background?I have always made fitness a part of my life to some degree since college.  Sometimes quite intensively like doing P90X with Rick, or just getting to the gym a few times per week.   I have had personal trainers in the past but nothing compares to the results I have experienced with BBCF.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? I love pushing myself beyond the voice in my head that is screaming to stop.  This has been such a huge life lesson that I am physically and mentally stronger than I think I am.  I love the competitiveness but especially appreciate the support of the coaches and my fellow CrossFitters.   I have met some fantastic people and am proud to be part of the BBCF community.

How has BBCF changed your life? It has become a huge part of both Rick’s and my life and we really enjoy sharing it together.    I don’t think of working out now as a box I need to check off but something I look forward to ending my day with.  I love working out at night and leaving the stresses of the day at the BBCF door.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I am not sure how much weight I have lost because I think scales are evil and I don’t like to get on them.   I am down 2 sizes and recently completed the Paleo challenge, which has given me tons of energy and a complete 180 to my eating habits.     My overall strength and flexibility have also improved.

What are your future training goals? I hope to get better at everything.  As of right now, I am concentrating on doing Kipping pull-ups more consistently.

Favorite sport or activity? I love watching baseball especially when Noah is playing or the Cubs are winning (LOL).

Recent adventure you’re planning? Nothing right now, but the thought of somewhere tropical for spring break sounds tempting.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I am fascinated with the weather.  I think my true calling was to be a Meteorologist.   It is one of the reasons why I made Rick move back to Illinois because the only weather in Las Vegas was sunny and hot (there is something fundamentally wrong with 80 degrees and Christmas lights).  He is still just a little bit bitter about the move especially in the months of January and February.

What is your favorite workout? I really like CrossFit Poker and any Tabatas;  also I enjoy any WODs when I can beat Rick’s time… I’m just a little bit competitive with himJ

What is your LEAST favorite workout?Morrison especially when it is 90 degrees with a heat index of 100.  It was an “easy day” that July night.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones?“Seven” on Memorial Day… I loved that one especially because it was a smoker!!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I think climbing the rope one night for 5 ascents during a WOD.   Dave’s words “ Its all about survival “ hit home that night.  The other was the first time I did an unassisted pull-up with both Rick and Melissa cheering me on!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? It will challenge you, it will humble you, it will stretch you beyond anything you have ever done and it will be the best decision you EVER made!

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October Athlete of the Month, Lori Hanson

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BBCF athlete.  This month we have Lori Hanson…

Lori is an inspiration for everybody at the box. She always has a good attitude and isn’t afraid to push herself as far as she can.  We have seen Lori progress so much since she has joined us over a year ago. We love that Lori as a part of our community and we continue to look forward to seeing many more accomplishments from her.

Our interview with Lori….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family:I grew up in Aurora, and for the last 28 years have lived here in Yorkville. I’ve been married to my husband Bill, for 32 years. (wow, long time) haha. We have 5 children. My three sons, Jon, Jason & Timothy are all married. Sarah and Emily my two daughters are still at home with us. I also have 4 grandchildren ranging in age from 6 down to 2. Tyler, Ethan, Logan and Aubree. You can ask anyone I know and they’ll tell you they are the absolute sunshine of my life!!!!

When did you start CrossFitting? I started CrossFit back in August of 2010.

Main reason for joining BBCF? I had been doing an exercise regiment for about 6 months prior to starting BareBones and heard great things about CrossFit so…I decided to take it to the next level, or shall I say I was coaxed into it!

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? OMG! It was one of the most humid nights of the summer as I remember, while I was driving home I kept saying to myself there is NO way I will ever be able to do this, I’m too old! What was I thinking? And low and behold 2 weeks later was doing my elements classes and the rest is history. I couldn’t imagine NOT doing it now!

Occupation? Manager of a local family owned shoe store.

Hobbies/Interests? I love listening to music, (all kinds) singing when no one is listening, reading, and my most favorite of all is gardening! I have 5 perennial gardens and you can find me there in most of my spare time.

Words to live by? This is taken from one of my favorite movies but I love it! There is no starting or stopping-only doing!

What is your fitness background? Back in the day I used to be a pretty good softball player, I loved the game. I’ve tried various fitness classes over the years, been on the walking routine, and just before starting CrossFit was doing burst training. Oh, I forgot the year of hard core stuff…water aerobics!

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? Hmmm…this is hard because I have many favorite things. I love the sense of accomplishment I feel when I do something for the first time, the people, they are like family to me, but if I were to narrow it down to one thing, it could be said in one word…camaraderie!

How has BBCF changed your life? I have such a great workout ethic now, it’s very rare for you not to see me there every Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 6:30 a.m. And on the days I’m not there I still do some sort of exercise at home. It’s not only made me feel better about myself on the outside, I’m a stronger person on the inside as well.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I’ve gained muscle mass, always, always have energy and the best is I’ve gone down 3 pant sizes!!!

What are your future training goals? To continue to work on some of my weaknesses. Be able to do unassisted pull ups and master climbing that ROPE!

Favorite sport or activity? Does shopping fall into the sport category? No, I enjoy shooting hoops with my grandkids, playing a little Tennis now and then and watching the Blackhawks.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Going on a vacation in the Spring. We haven’t been on one for a couple of years and I’m ready. I want to go somewhere WARM! My husband likes Hawaii, but I don’t like planes for longer than 3-4 hours!

Tell us something we don’t know about you?I like ornate picture frames and I just LOVE shoes! I’m not anywhere near the amount of pair Imelda Marcos had…my goal is to get close though! I wish!

What is your favorite workout?Karen, gotta love those wall balls.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? I guess it would have to be Adam Brown. I thought it was a real smoker and I said “Adam Brown took me down!” And not a huge fan of burpees either.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Everything we did the week of our CrossFit games, especially CrossFit Poker, fun stuff.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I have so many. I have a fear of storms, lightning in particular, we had to run outside one day and Coach Dave encouraged me (get out there Lori, you’ll be fine) and I did it! Another one is how Coach Jason knows when I’m getting tired, he says I squeak! I was doing pull ups one day and my gum went flying out of my mouth! I did pick it up after I was through though. Lastly it would be doing the Cinco Di Mile-o race with my two daughters. There were sore and crawling around for 2-3 days afterwards. I just laughed, squeezed their sore legs and told them they can’t hang with the big dog!

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? I would say “give it your all”, don’t talk yourself out of doing something you think you can’t, because then you won’t be able to. You will LOVE it and it is addicting. JUST DO IT!

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September Athlete of the Month, Rob Green

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have Rob Green…

Rob has been a true inspiration to many beginner athletes at Bare Bones. He came to us over a year ago ready to make a change in his life and decided to give us a try. His hard work has really paid off -as you can tell in the images below.  We really couldn’t imagine not having Rob at Bare Bones!

Our interview with Rob….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I am a widowed father with 2 great kids Sydney 5 and Noah 2.  My wife Lisa passed away from complications during Gall Bladder surgery 2 years ago.  After a year and half I started dating again and met Kris, and got her into CrossFit too.

(the first image in the below strip was taken shortly after Rob started at BBCF. The image on the far right was taken about a month ago).

When did you start CrossFitting? I started on August 8, 2010 with a bunch of people from Dr. Patrick Smith’s office. I think most of us are still here, even Lisa Ashley.

Main reason for joining BBCF? My dad passed away at age 58 from Prostate cancer.  I’d like to live a little longer than that, so at age 38 it was time to get in shape.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Occupation? I work for a small division of ADT that primarily works on CCTV cameras and electronic article surveillance systems. (aka: the pedestals you see when you walk into Wal-Mart)  This October will be 20 years.

Hobbies/Interests? Radio control – cars and airplanes.  I also enjoy tropical fish, home theater, computers and roller coasters.

Words to live by? Always tell the ones you love, “I love you”, it may be the last time you see them.

What is your fitness background? None, I was a geek in High School…

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? The people !!!

How has CrossFit changed your life? Well besides from now needing a new liver from all the drinking we do, I have made so many new friends and it has helped so much through the rough times I have had over the last 2 years.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I have lost around 35 pounds and have gone from a size 42 waist to almost a 36.  I have more energy than I have ever had in my life, and I’m even enjoying Paleo.

(the second image is of Rob from when he first started w/BBCF, the rest have recently been taken. You can really see a difference!)

What are your future training goals? Well after 2 shoulder injuries this year, I just want to start RXing things again.  Running a 5K with a decent time would be nice too.

Favorite sport or activity? I enjoying watching sports of any kind, but I’m not very good at playing any.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Kris and I are hoping to go to California sometime next year so I can show her my old stomping grounds.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I worked at Disneyland for 2 years while going to DeVry, nothing exciting just restaurants on Main St., but still the best job I have ever had.

What is your favorite workout? 5-4-3-2-1 and yes even Fran simply because one day I want to RX her and be under 5 minutes.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Anything with Burpees or Man-makers in it.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? The last team Saturday workout where we had 32 people all yelling and cheering, while we tried to finish the 4000m row.  That was fun.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I love seeing people reach their goals, Shawnna finally doing a muscle up after trying for so long or Katie completing the IronMan. Those things inspire me to try harder.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Hang on and enjoy the ride, because it only gets better.

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AUGUST ATHLETE OF THE MONTH -PHIL BROWN

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB Athlete.  This month we have Phil Brown…

Phil is the perfect example of  a team player and we’ve been very happy to have him with us since September 2010. You can always find Phil helping others (including us trainers). He never leaves another athlete behind and he’s always helping others finish their workout along with giving them encouragement to continue on.  Phil pushes himself through every workout  he does and is always improving.  Phil has been wonderful to have at Bare Bones CrossFit!

Our interview with Phil….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: My wife and I grew up about 30 minutes west of Yorkville in small farm towns called Shabbona and Waterman (a.k.a. the ghetto). I spent five years in the Army as a Military Police Officer, and I spent majority of that time in foreign countries. My wife and I met at our first job (Indian Oaks Country Club) where I was a dishwasher and she was a bus-girl. We actually did not start dating until I finished with the Army, and she was finished with college. We moved in together when I got back to Illinois and the rest is history. We moved to the Yorkville area 5 years ago due to job requirements.

When did you start CrossFitting? I started occasionally doing CrossFit workouts two years ago with a friend when I would get bored with the typical gym routine. My wife and I joined BBCF last year in September, and we have enjoyed every sweaty moment.

Main reason for joining BBCF? We had already quit our local gym and purchased gym equipment for our basement , then one day our neighbors (Jordan and Jill Swanson) told us how much fun they were having a local CrossFit gym. We told ourselves that we would join for a couple of months as a trial, but now we could not see leaving BBCF.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I can’t breathe.

Occupation? I have been in law enforcement for the past twelve years, but I have been a police officer with the City of DeKalb for the past four years.

Hobbies/Interests? I love to play golf, and I am in a summer volleyball league with my wife and her family at a townie bar in Hinckley. I also enjoy going on motorcycle rides with my wife and friends.

Words to live by? Carpe Diem

What is your fitness background? I began lifting weights when I was in the Army back in 1998. I became somewhat of a gym rat when I was deployed to Saudi Arabia, and I got into power lifting. After a few injuries in the gym, I had a different outlook on weight training , and I got away from lifting heavy weights. During that time I hated cardio, but for some unexplained reason, I really enjoyed running when I was at the Police Training Institute, which is a good thing since the cardio aspect of CrossFit absolutely kills me.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? The competition of the training really pushes me to a whole new level that I would never have been able to reach.

How has BBCF changed your life? I love the atmosphere. When one athlete is struggling with a workout, you could almost guarantee that another would give the proper encouragement to help that person get through the workout.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I haven’t lost any weight since coming to BBCF, but I can tell I have become more powerful and flexible.

What are your future training goals? My next training goal would be to figure out the mystery of the butterfly pull up.

Favorite sport or activity? Like I stated earlier, I love playing golf.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Planning my wife’s 30^th birthday party

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I have an obsessive disorder with keeping my house, lawn and vehicles clean (and it drives Ashley insane).

What is your favorite workout? I really like the Saturday team workouts.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Warrior workout “Jason”. Only because I could not finish the workout. And I blame it on the fact that my hands were sweaty, and I could not grip the rings.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? I cannot remember the contents of the workout, but I remember Coach Jason misunderstood how many rounds we were suppose to be doing. But he got it completely wrong, and we were working out for almost an hour and twenty minutes. I know, for sure, it consisted of sumo deadlift high pulls. And on top of that, Ashley screamed “DONE” after 1 round, as she misread the WOD and thought we only had to do one full round. That’s when Jason informed her that she still had several rounds left, and the look on her face was priceless.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? All good memories at BBCF.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Don’t quit . And a quote from Ron Burgundy, “Ohh, it’s the deep burn. Oh, it’s so deep. Oh, I can barely lift my right arm ’cause I did so many. I don’t know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand.”

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JULY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH -JORDAN SWANSON

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB Athlete.  This month we have Jordan Swanson…

Jordan has been a Bare Bones Athlete since September 2010. He always comes to the workouts with a positive attitude and is constantly supporting the other Athletes. You’ll often find Jordan finish his workout then go back to help the other Athletes complete theirs. This is what is so great about CrossFit. Everyone is supportive of one another and Jordan is a great example of that.  We’re happy to have Jordan AND his family a part of the Bare Bones Community.

Our interview with Jordan….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I’ve been married to my wife Jill for almost 5 years. I have a stepson named Justin who is 13 and we’re expecting a baby girl in October. We moved to Yorkville in 2006 from the tiny town of Paw Paw. I’m still holding on to my 20’s…for a few more months.

When did you start CrossFitting?Beginning of September 2010

Main reason for joining BBCF? I had heard of crossfit a couple of years prior and had watched some videos of different workouts. I thought it looked pretty awesome and was looking for a way to avoid plateaus which come from isolation lifting.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? I can’t breathe…I’m going to puke…I thought I was in shape…that was awesome. In that order.

Occupation?Correctional Officer for the Illinois Dept. of Corrections

Hobbies/Interests? I really love doing anything competitive. Basketball and golf are my favorite sports. I work midnights so that gives me plenty of time to read.

Words to live by? Everything happens for a reason..there are no coincidences. When it comes to fitness; You only get out what you put in.

What is your fitness background? I’ve worked out pretty consistently for the last 10 years. It mostly consisted of isolated lifting and little cardio. I’ve done P90X twice and did have good results but I lost a lot of strength and Tony Horton might be the most irritating man in the whole.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? Besides the fact it kicks your ass every day, I’d have to say it’s the camaraderie and support inside and outside The Box.

How has BBCF changed your life? It’s definitely made me more health conscious as far as what we eat at home. Also, since my wife and son are members, I think it’s made us closer as a family being able to workout and spend time together…instead of me going to a gym by myself for 2 hours.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? Since I’ve started, I’ve lost about 15 pounds and gained strength everywhere. I’m not the most flexible person in the world, but I’m twice as flexible compared to before I started. My biggest gains have been in leg strength, because I would rarely workout legs before…now I don’t have a choice.

What are your future training goals? To continue to work on getting all the different movements and lifts down to a science, because that’s what it is and that’s why it works. I also hope to become a certified trainer eventually and compete at the national level..that’s quite a ways off

Favorite sport or activity? Besides CrossFitting…I’m going to have to say golf. There’s nothing more relaxing than being on a freshly cut green just after sunrise…putting for birdie.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Well we weren’t exactly planning this adventure but I’m so excited about having a baby. I’ve always wanted a girl and I can’t wait for her to come! I’m sure it’ll be the adventure of a lifetime.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I’m a huge Stephen King nerd.

What is your favorite workout?Probably The Bear Complex because it just feels like it hits everything.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? I think that one goes to Fran. I feel great during the first sets of 21 then I’m completely blown out for the rest of it. I should probably learn to pace myself.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Adam Brown. It was mine and Jill’s first WOD and I attempted to do it Rx. I didn’t know what a “warrior workout” was then and whole time I was thinking, “Who is Adam Brown and why is he making me do this!” I had a DNF next to my name for that one.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? The one that stands out the most for me was seeing my wife, who was unknowingly 8 weeks pregnant at the time, doing an extremely long bear crawl and not quitting when I knew she wanted to. I was choked up and very proud to see her push herself like that.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?Don’t quit. CrossFit is a lifestyle and the sense of self accomplishment and overall well being you can achieve through it is immeasurable. Dang, that should be on a t-shirt or something

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JUNE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH – GAYLE CLAFFY

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have Gayle Claffy…

Anyone who knows Gayle, knows she has a personality that is inspiring and a joy to be around.  Gayle came to Bare Bones with previous injuries, and through determination and hard work, she has been able to overcome many of her struggles and has seen results with everyday functional movements.  Gayle brings a positive energy to the box and we are happy to have her as part of our community!

Our interview with Gayle….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I am a single mom and have lived in Yorkville for the last 5 years. I have one older sister and two younger sisters. My brother passed away 2 years ago. I have a daughter, Pamela, who is married to Mike Butler. They have 4 children, Matt, Kelly, (my only granddaughter) and their twins, Brett and Brady. They live in Millington, IL. I also have a son, Kevin, who is single and lives in Orland Park, IL.

When did you start CrossFitting? August 23, 2010.

Main reason for joining BBCF? To get in shape. I have been overweight most of my life and have some health issues. I had discussed this with Dr. Pat Smith and he encouraged me to join.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? Holy Cow!! What am I getting myself into!! I can’t remember the last time I ran 50 yards, let alone complete a 400 meter run.

Occupation? I’m an Administrative Asst. in the Import Dept. with a company that imports dollar goods for dollar stores. I have been with Regent Products for 11 years now and have the opportunity to accompany my boss on 4 buying trips to China. I now stay here at home in the office when she travels with my co-worker. I keep things running while they are gone. I also cashier part-time at the Oswego Walmart.

Hobbies/Interests? I love to read. Two of my favorite authors are John Grisham and James Patterson. I also love to cook, but have rediscovered a healthier way to prepare food while competing in the Paleo Challenge we had here at the gym a couple of months ago. It has been life changing for me and I have continued to eat this way since the challenge ended. I save my cheats for the Bare Bones Nights out.

Words to live by? A Bare Bones Motto that I first saw on one of the T-Shirts:

WHAT YOU DID YESTERDAY DOESN’T COUNT

Inspiring words to live by. Each day is a new adventure and the best is yet to come.

What is your fitness background? I played intramural sports (basketball, volleyball and softball) in grade school and high school, but that’s about it. I joined a gym a few times, but there was never any motivation to continue.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? The teamwork ethic and pushing one another to complete a workout. If I’m the last one out their running the others in my class run right along side me until I am done. Everyone is very supportive of one another.

How has CrossFit changed your life? Exercise is fun now. I am now more motivated to work-out on the days I am not at the box.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I have lost some weight and gained some lean muscle. I have more stamina and am not as tired as I used to be. My ankle is getting stronger.

What are your future training goals? To get down under 125 lbs and run a 5K. I have disliked running most of my life, but for me to achieve my weight loss goal I need to incorporate running into my work-outs. I’m getting there a little at a time.

Favorite sport or activity? I love to play volleyball and swim. I would love to participate in Hoover Ball.

Recent adventure you’re planning? A destination wedding for my niece in Cozumel, Mexico, from June 29^th-July 4^th. She is getting married on July 1^st. I haven’t had a real vacation in almost 10 years.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I collect frogs-both ceramic and stuffed-all shapes and sizes. The last one I received was on Mother’s Day this year from my grandkids. It’s a frog sitting on a lily pad in a yoga pose and it says: CREATE BALANCE. Love it!!!

What is your favorite workout? 5-4-3-2-1

What is your LEAST favorite workout? KAREN (150 Wallballs)

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? FIGHT GONE BAD on New Year’s Eve.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? Competing in and completing the Cinco De Mile-o sponsored by Bare Bones CrossFit on May 7^th. I was the last one to finish, but that was my goal and to have everyone cheering me on at the end was very emotional. Lori Hanson even did my modified burpees with me at the end to finish up. Now, that’s teamwork.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?

Don’t be intimidated by the work-outs. Give it all you got by showing up and completing each work-out. The results are life changing and rewarding in the end.

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MAY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH – JANEL MATHISON

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have Janel Mathison…

Janel Started with Bare Bones in August 2010 and has continued to impress us with her athleticism.  Janel always comes to her workouts ready to put full effort and is constantly pushing herself to do better.  Although Janel has seen outstanding results from first starting CrossFit at Bare Bones, it has been amazing seeing how much improvement came out of switching her diet to the Paleo Plan back in February.  She lost inches off her waist and we saw a huge improvement on her times. We look forward to helping Janel achieve her goals of being a competitor  in the 2012 games!!

Our interview with Janel….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I am the youngest of three girls with very supportive parents.  My husband, Mike, and I met in college where we both played soccer and have been together for the past 15 years.  We have two boys Jackson (8) and Canon (5) who keep us laughing all of the time. A dog, Ace, who is a 135 lb. St. Bernard / Beagal mix. Mike has his theories on how this combination happened.

When did you start CrossFitting? Beginning of August 2010

Main reason for joining BBCF? I wanted to get a personal trainer. I had done P90X and was successful with it, but got really bored with it also. I wanted to continue with lifting weights and wanted guidance, encouragement, and support at the same time. Joining a “gym” normally hasn’t worked for me.  It is too easy to make excuses.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? “I am really going to like this cross-fit thing”

Occupation? Physical Education Teacher Grades 4-6

Hobbies/Interests? Playing almost all sports, watching my sons play baseball, watching movies, any type of outside activity (I make excuses to be outside), and of course Bare Bones CrossFit.

Words to live by? “Do your best; no one can ask for more”

What is your fitness background? From childhood though high school I swam, played basketball, and soccer. I played soccer for 4 years at Quincy University while earning my degree in Physical Education.  I have always tried to be active (except when I was pregnant, I didn’t want to do anything).  I rode in a century bike race (100 miles). I have ran the Nashville ½ marathon.  I really like to have a challenge to work for, it keeps me motivated and on track to continue exercising. I guess you could say that I like to have a purpose to exercise.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? I love showing up for a workout and having the coaches tell me what to do.  I don’t have to plan anything…it is all already there for me. I appreciate how the coaches know how far they can push me.

How has CrossFit changed your life? CrossFit has made me excited about working out again. Especially with eating the “Paleo” way.  CrossFit and Paleo have become a lifestyle for me.  It is what I “do” not just my current “diet”.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? At first I especially noticed my over all strength increase.  I always thought that I ate o.k but I could do better.  Since doing Paleo and Crossfit together I feel even stronger and healthier.  I have lost weight since starting crossfit, but the benefits / results are so much more than a number on the scale.

What are your future training goals? First of all I have got to get pull-ups down without using the band.  Second of all I would like to work towards competing in the CrossFit games in 2012. California here I come!

Favorite sport or activity? I love to swim and play golf. Both are very relaxing and enjoyable for me.

Recent adventure you’re planning? I would like to try and do a mini triathlon in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. (my husband is just finding out about this)  I am also doing the Warrior Dash in June.

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I played the drums from fourth grade through junior year in high school. Marching band, trap set…. I did it all. My husband was totally shocked the first time he heard me play.  (Mostly because I don’t have rhythm when I dance, but I can play the drums. Weird!)

What is your favorite workout? I like the work outs where you have to complete a certain amount of rounds for time.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? I have a harder time pushing myself when trying to complete as many rounds as possible in the time provided.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Maxing out in the dead lift.  I never thought I could lift that much, or want to lift that much.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? I don’t know if this answers the question……but I really enjoy seeing familiar faces at Bare Bones CrossFit.  The constant encouragement from fellow crossfitters and coaches is amazing.  It is so cool seeing how excited everyone is for each others successes.  We are all competitive, but at the same time so supportive of each other, not only at the “box” but outside of the “box” also.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit: Yes… at some time the soreness will go away.  But it will come back.  Just when I thought something was “easy”, I have been challenged with activities that I never thought I would do in my thirties.  Such as climbing a rope or doing the monkey bars.

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APRIL ATHLETE OF THE MONTH – SCOTT SIMON

In an effort to get to know the great athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have Scott Simon…

Scott was one of our very first athletes at the box.  He has been coming since July 2010 and has the same positive attitude and outgoing personality since the very first day we met him.  He is always staying behind helping other athletes with  various exercises and is very supportive of everyone at BBCF.  We have seen Scott come a long way from his beginning days at BBCF, and mostly that is from his drive and the friendly competitiveness he brings to the box.  Scott has also taken his nutrition seriously and has reaped the benefits!  (it shows!) We are very happy to have Scott with us and are proud of all of his accomplishments. Keep up the great work, Scott!

Our interview with Scott….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family:

My wife Nellymar and I married 9 years ago in 2002.  We have two children, JP (18) and Isabella (7). I will be 43 this May. We live in Yorkville, just a couple of blocks from BBC.

When did you start CrossFitting?

I joined Barebones in July 2010.

Main reason for joining BBCF?

I was not interested in the same old routine and the typical gym. Crossfit is exactly what I want. There is nothing fancy, no meat market atmosphere, no juice bar, and no ego-maniac muscle heads. It’s just me, the coaches and a lot of burpees. Perfect.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?

I had never rowed 500m, and sprinting 400m was something I would have avoided rather than pushed through, so I was feeling good about finishing the WOD. However, I was also very nauseous and was trying not to let Dave notice. Of course I was white as a ghost and he asked if I was feeling sick. Pukie (the bucket) had not arrived yet, so, as if this was completely normal, he told me to just head out to the bushes around the corner. I knew then that this was the gym for me.

Occupation?

I work for Nalco Company as a computer system analyst, but was recently promoted to Infrastructure Project Manager.

Hobbies/Interests?

I tried a bunch of different sports while trying to find something that I could share with my son, JP. Eventually we discovered paintball. JP and I now play for The Hellions Scenario Paintball Team and are sponsored by Tippmann and Challenge Park Extreme Sports in Joliet. We travel with the team to play 12-26 hour scenario events all across the U.S.

Words to live by?

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

What is your fitness background?

Before becoming a computer nerd I worked construction. I have built and installed hundreds of wood play sets, framed houses, roofed houses, plumbing, electrical, landscaping…if its manual labor I’ve done some. I’ve played many sports, have done some lifting and have joined (and quit) several globo-gyms

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?

Coach Dave calls the BBC members his “clan”. Everyone is supportive of one another and despite the friendly competition we all pull together as a team.

How has CrossFit changed your life?

Exercise used to be a chore, like cleaning up the landmines my dog leaves in the yard. It just was not fun. That changed when I joined BBC. WODs change every day and whenever you start to think you have mastered one it humbles you real fast. I also learned proper nutrition. That is a subject that I struggled with all of my life. What we are taught to think of as healthy foods are not and the truth is hidden in plain sight. I love living paleo and have never felt better.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF?

It’s been 8 months since I started WODs.  I’ve lost 25 pounds, learned to eat healthy, lowered my cholesterol such that I threw out my prescription meds, and have lowered my triglycerides over 250 points.  I still don’t like running, but I can run now. I haven’t really run since high school.  I actually consider joining 5K’s now. I think that, somewhere along the way, I may have lost my mind.

What are your future training goals?

I am very close to my optimal weight, but I can still reduce visceral fat and add some muscle. I am working to undo 30 years of less than optimal living. So, adding muscle around joints and regaining the flexibility I once had is important to living well in later years. I simply want to be fit well into my cranky old man stage. Then, when the grandkids get too froggy I can spring up off the couch, chase them down, and scare the mud out of them.

Favorite sport or activity?

Aside from spending time with my family I am a junkie for paintball. I love the WODs and enjoy camping and fishing.

Recent adventure you’re planning?

I’ve never bow hunted before. I am going this September for the first time.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I love baseball and have a respectable collection of cards dating back to the early seventies.

What is your favorite workout?

5-4-3-2-1 has a special place in my heart (and stomach). I like that I can gauge performance based on the WOD I did on day one.

What is your LEAST favorite workout?

Without any hesitation…Helton. That WOD made me question my existence on this planet.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones?

There are a few standouts. Certainly Helton and the WOD where I blew out my hamstring. There was one that coach Dave created where we rowed 1500m and did 75 double unders then rowed 1250m and did 60 DU, 1000m and 50DU, 750m and 35DU, 500m and 20DU, 250m and 10DU.  I wanted to crawl in a hole and cry. I still can’t do DU to save my life. I blame Dave, that WOD and the resultant trauma.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments?

The journey is just beginning. When I started I couldn’t do a pull up because of a shoulder strain. I couldn’t jump over a kidney bean and anything METCON was an exercise in sucking wind. I’ve come a long way, but the journey has just begun. I look forward to many more WODs.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?

The real battle is in your head, so just have fun and don’t quit on yourself. Even when you’re the last one to finish, you’re never really last.  There is always someone cheering you on and often someone will jump back in the WOD and finish with you. The team mentality at BBC is the strongest I’ve ever seen outside of organized sports.

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MARCH ATHLETE OF THE MONTH- SHAWNNA STRAUSBERGER

In an effort to get to know the outstanding athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have Shawnna, AKA “Animal”

Shawnna started with Bare Bones back in August of 2010 and has been religiously coming to BBCF since.  Shawnna possesses the drive and determination we love seeing in all of our athletes.  She came with a goal and set out to achieve it.  She has shown she is a team player at Bare Bones as well. When a last minute idea of a competition came up, she stepped in and joined the team with only 2 weeks to prepare.  During the competition, one of her fellow teammates were injured and Shawnna agreed to take on all 4 wod’s that day.  I think this is where she inherited the nickname “Animal”.  We love having Shawnna at Bare Bones and appreciate the positive attitude she has brought to the gym, the support she continues to share with the other athletes, and we can’t forget her sense of humor! Congratulations, Shawnna!

Our interview with Shawnna….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I have been married to Nate for almost 6 years and we have two children Izzy, 3 & Nick 1 ½ .

When did you start CrossFitting? I joined Bare Bones on August 9, 2010.

Main reason for joining BBCF?I think I was getting tired of being fat so when my friend (Lisa) told me she did this butt-kicking short work out, my curiosity peaked and I joined. I’ve been hooked ever since.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1?Oxygen!! I thought my lungs were going to explode. But it must not have been too bad since I was back for more punishment the next day.

Occupation?Trophy Wife. I taught Jr. High history for 6 years but I decided to leave the glamorous life of teaching behind once we had kids, so now I stay home with them. I just applied for a master’s program in school counseling and guidance so I guess we’ll see where that takes me . . .

Hobbies/Interests? CrossFit is really my only hobby right now. In the summer I like to play volleyball and try to figure out what happened to my softball skills.

Words to live by? “Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.” It makes life much more enjoyable—and funny.

What is your fitness background? Cheeseburger curls with the occasional side of Zumba. Before CrossFit it had been a good 10 years since I had actually worked out on a normal basis.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?I love how supportive all of the athletes and coaches are of one another. Although there is a competitive aspect to everything we do, everyone is always so willing to teach and help one another improve.

How has CrossFit changed your life? For the first time in my life I enjoy working out and eating right.  I feel better than I ever have and I actually like to run now.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? I have lost 20 pounds and toned up everywhere. I can even see some abs, which I never thought would happen after having a 10 lb. baby!

What are your future training goals? I would like to train as if every day were a competition. I need to focus more on pushing myself harder because I have a tendency to be easily distracted . . .  Oh, and I’d like to figure out this muscle up thing soon.

Favorite sport or activity? I love volleyball; it just doesn’t love me back.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Destination unknown, but it will have a beach, warm weather, unlimited cocktails and no kids!

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I’m a karaoke junkie. If there is a microphone, I’ll probably be on it. Did I mention that I’m also tone deaf?

What is your favorite workout? I don’t have a stand out favorite but I like big work outs like Seven and the Filthy Fifty.

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Right now, anything that involves 100 pull ups, but Helton was definitely the worst. It took me over an hour to do it.

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Kelly. I smoked my husband on that workout. He didn’t believe my time and called the gym for verification.

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? Every time I accomplish something I was previously unable to do is memorable. Pull ups, double unders, setting a new PR. CrossFit is great because with the coaches pushing you, you’ll always surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit?Stick with it! You may feel like it’s killing you in the beginning but it’s only making you stronger. If you show up every day and give it everything you’ve got, you’ll come to love it and see amazing results.

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FEBRUARY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH – RYAN PEAT

In an effort to get to know the outstanding athletes of Bare Bones CrossFit, we embark on our Athlete of the Month series.  Each month we will spotlight a different BB athlete.  This month we have our 5:15 “Monster”, Ryan Peat!

Ryan started with Bare Bones in July 2010.  He was our very first Athlete.  Ryan came to the box with the determination of making a healthy lifestyle change. Ryan has impressed us with his dedication. He’s worked really hard on his Nutrition and has pushed himself to seeing great results. He’s studied and practiced the Olympic lifting techniques on his own time and has never hesitated to help support others. Ryan’s positive attitude and friendly mannerisms are a great asset to Bare Bones. Keep up the great work, Ryan!!

Our interview with Ryan….

Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I am married to Vicki, My high school sweet heart.  We have 2 amazing boys, Colton 2 and Owen is 9 months.

When did you start CrossFitting? I started July 5^th 2010 with the opening of BB

Main reason for joining BBCF? We moved our office in to the complex next to the box.  I have a friend that is level 1 certified down in Texas, and he was telling me how great Cross Fit is, and kept trying to get me started.  The timing was perfect so I joined as soon as I could.

What were your thoughts after completing the initial 5-4-3-2-1? WOW I am Fat!!!  Which was confirmed by the photos Melissa showed me last week..ha  I really thought I was getting in over my head.

Occupation? Good Question??? I have sold insurance for the last 3 years and have been training to become a law enforcement officer; I have been testing for the last year and hope to get on somewhere asap. In the meantime, it seems I am going to be back in the concrete business, but I am enjoying the extra exercise.

Hobbies/Interests? Any shooting sports, hunting, fishing, camping, anything outdoors.  Music and drums, I have played drums for 20 plus years in various bands, and various styles of music from hardcore to country.

Words to live by? I can do anything for (insert amount of time) ie…for the fight gone bad, “I can do anything for 60 seconds”.

What is your fitness background? I have worked out in the globogyms and have built a home gym, with the same results, I work for a couple weeks and then let it go for a few months.  I have never been as motivated as I am with crossfit.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit? The group setting, I know everyday there is going to be someone there pushing me.

How has CrossFit changed your life? I make healthier choices now (most of the time) I have had some serious back problems in the past, and have never been able to get past them.  With the loss of weight and the training in functional movement, I haven’t thought about my back for the first time in 15 years.

What results have you seen so far since coming to BBCF? So far I’ve lost 20+ lbs but gained lots of muscle…. doing things I’ve never been able to do, bench 300 lbs, pull-ups, and I keep seeing my run times go down.  My initial 5-4-3-2-1 time was 8:57 with green bands. The last one was at 5:21 Rx.

What are your future training goals? I want to get my weight down under 200 lbs.  however, I am more focused on being functional and healthy so I am not as concerned about the weight as I once was.  I know if I eat right and train hard I will get there.

Favorite sport or activity? Outside of the box, hunting…and I know it sounds cheesy but crossfit has become a favorite part of my life.  Outside of my family there is not anywhere else I want to spend my spare time.

Recent adventure you’re planning? Going to the Northwoods with some friends for our annual guys trip.  We go to Wisconsin to shoot guns, ride quads, drink and play cards!

Tell us something we don’t know about you? I am a nerd when it comes to history.  I collect WWII firearms

What is your favorite workout? Fight gone bad

What is your LEAST favorite workout? Any tabata

What is your most memorable workout with Bare Bones? Helton…that one is a bastard!

Do you have any other special or successful Bare Bones CrossFit memories/moments? Doing my first pull up.  When I started in July, Dave had to assist me on inverted rows.  After that I did not ever see myself doing unassisted pull ups.  It helps me stay motivated as I am still shooting for that first muscle up.

What advice would you give to a newbie or someone just joining CrossFit? Just keep showing up and working hard.  The movements will come with practice just keep pushing.